Kolb wrote: Republicans who control the Michigan Senate deserve points for their
anti-public school creativity, or at least bright red achievement
stickers for their notebook covers.

Two long-time Chronicle online posters had almost immediate responses. Fenstermacher believes public education is a failed policy that needs to be reformed:

Mr. Kolb is much more interested in the continuation of
failed policy in the public schools than education. He is more
interested in the continuation of the teachers union than education.
Here's what Mr. Kolb really fears-One highly paid, very excellent
teacher teaching thousands of students over the internet, thus
eliminating hundreds of teachers. They could even be replaced by aides
instead of live teachers. Those poorer school districts would now be
able to receive the same quality education as any other district. By
proven educators. At a fraction of the cost.

You see, it all boils down to money in the end.

Kolb asked: "Why would Republicans do such a thing?"
Because the liberals in the teachers unions have failed. Why would they not do such a thing?

equality responds that what Republicans are trying to change about education will not make improvements:

So, Fenstermacher, you think our traditional neighborhood
schools should be thrown out? Or weakened to the point they are
useless? Because that is exactly what is happening thanks to Republican
efforts such as those described by Mr. Kolb.

The idea that one teacher can teach thousands is ludicrous and every thinking person knows it.

The best schools in the world are highly unionized. That is because when you pay teachers, you have quality teachers.

We may need changes in our schools -- to improve them -- but these things being promoted by Republicans are NOT improvements.

eaglescout102 wants to know what happened to having parents and students involved in the discussion of education:

Whatever happened to caring
about the novel concept of giving PARENTS and STUDENTS the right to
choose and control their educational future. Choice and competition is
good for everyone. It should make public educators more accountable to
student performance. Resisting change is hard for anyone, but let's
keep the focus on the beneficiary of this change - parents and students.

rightsideofbrain believes poor public education is hurting the middle class more than anything else:

Being an employer in the real world I can tell you with
certainty that students graduating from high school are functionally
illiterate. Not all- I am generalizing and I am not talking about those
headed for college- I am talking about the 70% of students who want and
need to work and are not going to college. They cannot read. They cannot
write. They cannot perform basic math functions and they have no
ability to reason.
Public education is failing the students and it is failing society. How
can we develop a strong middle class America when they cannot do
anything?
Why would any of you left wing liberals want to continue a system that
is costly and has failed? If you were honest you would say I want to
continue it "for me".